Puncture and Cut Resistant Material

ABSTRACT

A composite material having a plurality of protective elements held such that they comprise substantially all of a fabric material that retains an elastic property that allows the material to freely expand and contract without substantial restriction and such that the material can be used to make a water garment for wearing over a torso of a person in a body of water. The protective elements can be inelastic with a diameter of approximately ¾ of an inch or more.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/160,351 filed onJul. 9, 2008 which claimed the benefit of international application no.PCT/US2006/062525 filed Dec. 12, 2006, provisional patent applicationNo. 60/766,291 filed Jan. 9, 2006 and provisional patent application No.60/823,369 filed Aug. 23, 2006, all filed by the present inventor, thedisclosures of all of which are specifically incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cut and puncture resistant materials forgarments. This invention is intended for use with wetsuits (likeneoprene or nylon) for water activities, but said invention may proveuseful wherever puncture and cut resistant material that is also elasticis used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are currently numerous “wet” suits worn by water sportsenthusiasts. Some are made of elastic materials like nylon to reduce thebody's natural “drag” against the water, such as used by Olympicswimmers. Others are made of elastic materials like nylon by surfers forthe purpose of providing a thin level of rash protection from contactwith the surfing equipment. Some are made from insulating materials likeneoprene which provide thermal insulation for those participating incolder waters.

In order for these garments to work effectively, they must stretch andcling to the wearer. In order for these garments to be desired byenthusiasts (and actually be worn) they must allow for a high level ofmobility, which again requires a high level of stretch and elasticity.

Current wetsuits do provide for simple rash protection or thermalinsulation, but are not designed to resist puncture, cutting, ortearing, such as may be received from impacts with sharp rocks or reefs,or from shark bites. Many fatalities from shark bites result not fromblunt force trauma or drowning induced by the shark, but rather from thedeep puncture and cutting of tissue from the shark's razor sharp teeth.Some dive shops do offer chain mail garments designed to be worn overwetsuits or rash guards. These garments function when engaged in slowdeliberate movements like SCUBA diving. However, these suits are toooversized, bulky, heavy, and burdensome for those participating invigorous water sports like swimming or surfing.

So, manufacturers of wet suits for vigorous water sports have longsought a means to effectively protect the wearer from cutting, puncture,and tearing in a garment that remains highly elastic and form fitting.

There are essentially four “groups” of related art that should bediscussed in detail. The first group of references is related to wetsuits or thermal suits for diving, which do not significantly protectthe wearer from cutting or puncture. The second group of references isrelated to suits or materials with small rigid elements or plateletsdesigned for protection from fire, knife stabbing, or high velocitypunctures (such as bullets). These materials are generally not designedto expand and contract, as such a property would be deleterious to theirintended use (by allowing gaps between individual platelets to formduring expansion of the base material, which may defeat the protectionaltogether). The third group is references contain materials designedprimarily for the medical profession, in the form of gloves and variousmaterials, to prevent accidental needle sticks and scalpel cuts. Thesematerials are generally not intended for full suits or for vigorouswater activities. The fourth group of references is related to suits ormaterials specifically for shark bite protection, with materials rangingfrom chain mail to spiked outfits. All of the groups of referencedrelated art have serious limitations for use, which explains why theyare not used by water sports enthusiasts currently.

Group one depicts thermal protection suits that do not possesssignificant cutting or puncture resistance. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,749,551 and2,981,954, issued to Garbellano, depict such underwater thermal suits.Garbellano's suits are designed primarily for thermal insulation, and donot possess significant cutting or tearing resistance other than thatafforded by the neoprene and fabric itself. U.S. Pat. No. 4,710,978,issued to Pankopf, discloses a protective garment for water activities.The suit is designed for ease of wearing, not to protect against bitingor cutting. U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,774, issued to Mitchell, discloses ascuba wet suit with constant buoyancy. It includes a plurality ofrigid-wall containers, supported by at least one support layer, whichare designed to provide insulation and buoyancy. These containers, andtheir support layer(s), do not provide protection against shark bites orreefs. U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,572, issued to Buck, discloses a floatationfabric and life preserver made therefrom. The floatation fabric iscomposed of two opposed layers of water-permeable, flexible, woven orknitted material. Sandwiched between the layers are small particles,pellets or beats of closed cell foam plastic material, which give thefabric its buoyancy. Buck's patent is designed for floatation, not forshark attack prevention.

Group two depicts suits or materials designed for knife stabbing or highvelocity bullet protection. U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,406, issued toWaterbury, is designed to be buoyant and to repel bullets. The materialfrom which to construct the suit, however, is not well-defined (cellularplastic with submicron metallic particles at the molecular level), andthe suit would appear to have limited flexibility and expansivecharacteristics due to a base of semi-rigid plastic. U.S. Pat. No.2,819,759, issued to Goodloe; U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,281, issued toBurgess, et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,541, issued to Sacks and Jones,suggest plates affixed to a flexible, yet preferably non-elastic base.The non-elastic nature of the base material provides for flexibility buteliminates the clinging elastic properties required for vigorous watersports. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,241, issued to Zieglar, depicts achain mail glove impregnated with neoprene. Infusing flexible metal withrubber renders the composite material substantially inflexible andinelastic, because the elastic neoprene material would bond to virtuallyall of the steel ring surfaces. All of these referenced suits ormaterials seem to possess a significant degree of flexibility, but lacka significant level of elasticity.

The third group features many designs of materials and garments designedto protect the skin, especially professionals in the medical field fromaccidental needle sticks or scalpel cuts. These materials are notgenerally intended for complete suits or for use in the water. Thearrays of tiny platelets in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,689, issued to Jones;U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,263, issued to Gould and Nichols; U.S. Pat. No.5,368,930, issued to Samples; U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,895, issued toCunningham; U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,751, issued to Kobren; and U.S. Pat. No.6,519,774, issued to Kim, are small and smooth faced. Teeth from ashaking shark bite would likely slide over the smooth faced plateletsand find their way in between them. The woven metals or woven aramidfibers of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,779,290 and 4,833,733, issued to Welch andDombrowski; U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,578, issued to Seid; and U.S. Pat. No.5,070,540, issued to Bettcher and Bettcher, are flexible, but inelastic,and would prevent high degrees of elasticity and mobility required bywater sports enthusiasts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,828, issued to Foot, etal, discloses a protective, cut-resistant material for use in articlesof apparel. Such material, however, would not guard against shark bites.

The final group discloses suits specifically designed for protectionwhile engaged in water activities. U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,806, issued toPrasser, depicts a thermal rubber wetsuit with impregnated steel mesh ora plurality of “intermeshed” rings to form an “interlinked fabric.” Thisdesign is similar in limitations to Ziegler, wherein the infusing offlexible metal with rubber renders the composite material assubstantially less flexible and inelastic. This is because the elasticneoprene material would bond to virtually all of the inelastic steelsurfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,569, issued to Sullivan, suggests chainmail with large steel plates. This suit is limited by non-clinging orform-fitting steel chain mail, with plates of steel strapped to theoutside. This entire arrangement would be very difficult to efficientlymaneuver through the water. Further, this arrangement would beprohibitively expensive and cumbersome to manufacture in requiringtailoring to the many different sizes and shapes of people. U.S. Pat.No. 4,602,384, issued to Schneider, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,729, issuedto Fox, both suggest elements on the outside of the suits (spikes orrepulsive chemical sacs) to deter shark attacks. Due to gearentanglement issues and the outrageous appearance of the suits, neitherproduct would likely be considered by someone involved in vigorous watersports. French Patent No. 2819151, issued to Daniel and Olivier,discloses a protective suit. It does not however solve critical issueswhereby an extensive cross section of surface area is connected fromprotective elements to the elastic elements, which renders that samecross section of elastic material as inelastic, does not provideadequate protection when the elastic material is elongated, theprotective elements are defined as non-deformable bands (i.e. rigid,which creates a much less flexible and pliable composite material) andfinally the protective layers are externally exposed, which allows theselayers to both snag on equipment and create significant water drag.

In conclusion, the present invention seeks to remedy the followingseveral critical problems in the referenced patents:

(a) They attempt 100% solutions to a protection problem, providing somuch protection that ultimate mobility and manufacturing costs arecompromised. This results in garments that are not either not purchasedor not worn.

(b) Some suits offer only thermal or rash protection, and offer littleto no protection from cuts or punctures such as may be imposed by ashark bite or a sharp rock or reef.

(c) The referenced platelet designs have problems in that: 1) they aremounted to bases that are flexible but preferred as non elastic, whichprevents both the clinging form fitting nature and high degrees ofmobility and 2) they propose small, rigid, smooth faced individualplates, which would not prevent teeth in a shaking shark bite to slidein between platelets.

(d) The chainmail, chainmail and metal plate, neoprene infusedchainmail, and steel mesh designs are limited in that they are 1) heavy,2) expensive to manufacture, and 3) they do not allow free expansion andcontraction (they are limited to the designed expansion of theinterconnected metal elements of the chainmail or steel mesh). Currentlyavailable chainmail suits for water activities are manufacturedoversized to allow donning and doffing. The excess material is bound upwith additional straps and rubber bands (creating significant waterdrag). These suits are generally acceptable for slow deliberatemovements like scuba diving, but impractical for vigorous sports likesurfing or swimming.

(e) The spike and chemical sac suits both suffer from an expensivemanufacture process, likely entanglements of other gear or equipment(like scuba gear), imposed difficulty in the wearer's movement(swimming, surfing, etc.), large amounts of drag when moving through thewater, and an appearance that would discourage use by water sportsenthusiasts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a composite material inwhich a plurality of protective elements are held such that theycomprise substantially all of a fabric material that retains an elasticproperty such that it can freely expand and contract without substantialrestriction and such that the material can be used to make a watergarment for wearing over a torso of a person in a body of water. Theprotective elements can be inelastic with a diameter of approximately ¾of an inch or more.

The composite material can be made of an elastic material and a secondlayer of material (which may also be elastic) connected to the elasticmaterial with multiple connections in such a manner as to restrain eachof the protective elements within a pocket while neither the elasticmaterial nor the second layer of material is attached directly to theprotective elements.

The composite material can also be made of a layer of elastic threadswhile the protective elements are connected to and cover substantiallyall of the layer of elastic threads and the protective elements are notconnected to each other.

The composite material can also be made of a layer of protectiveelements connected together by elastic connections at multiple perimeterpoints so that the protective elements can freely expand and contractwithout substantial restriction due to gaps formed between the pluralityof protective elements.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean improved composite material that can be used to make a water garmentfor wearing over a torso of a person in a body of water.

This and further objects and advantages will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art in connection with the drawings and the detaileddescription of the invention set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawing figures, closely related figures have the same number butdifferent alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1 depicts a complete wet suit garment made from the compositeprotective material, with a flap exposing the protective layerunderneath a layer of elastic cover material.

FIG. 2 shows the material in a perspective view with layers pulled up toexpose the layers beneath. There is a layer of expandable base material,a layer of elastic material to attach the offset protective elements oneither side, and an exterior layer of elastic material to cover theplatelets.

FIG. 3 a depicts the preferred embodiment of a flexible protectiveelement platelet comprised of a layer of high strength material (nylonweb, aramid cloth, steel mesh, etc.) heat and pressure fused between twooutside layers of plastic (i.e., polyethylene terephthalate [PET] orMylar). FIG. 3 b depicts this platelet in cross section, and FIG. 3 c isan exploded view.

FIG. 4 a depicts individual non-expansive protective element plateletspoint-attached to the elastic base material, with dimension linesshowing the amount of elastic area in a linear format.

FIG. 4 b depicts the same line of platelets with continuous attachmentto the elastic base (not part of the invention). This figure alsodepicts the linear area remaining that is still elastic.

FIG. 5 a depicts a cross section of the material in cross section in arelaxed state. FIG. 5 b shows the same cross section in an expandedstate.

FIG. 6 a depicts a single shark tooth in initial contact with theprotective materials, with a representation of the tooth point's surfacearea.

FIG. 6 b depicts a single shark tooth depressed halfway into thematerial with flexible protective elements yielding to the form of thetooth. There is also representation of the linear area of surfacecontact between the tooth and the protective layer.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b depict a shark tooth with serrations reacting to thehigh strength fibers of the protective element. FIG. 7 b depicts amagnified view of the serrations catching on the threads of thehigh-strength fibers.

FIG. 9 a depicts a rigid protective element platelet design with ajagged surface. FIG. 9 b depicts this same platelet in cross section.FIG. 9 c depicts an alternate rigid platelet design with holeperforations, and FIG. 9 d depicts this same platelet in cross section.

FIG. 10 a depicts the operation of rigid smooth-faced platelets incontact with a shark's tooth under the operation of a bite (downwardpressure and side-to-side shaking). FIG. 10 b depicts a jagged surfaceof a rigid platelet capturing the tooth during side-to-side shaking.

FIGS. 11 a through 11 f depict multiple arrangements of protectiveelement shapes, both in overlapping and non-overlapping arrangements.

FIG. 12 a depicts a “Z”-shaped, protective-element platelet thatoverlaps other platelets, thus allowing for expansion and contractionwithout opening gaps in the system. FIG. 12 b depicts the samearrangement in cross section.

FIG. 13 a depicts a perspective view of flat, overlapped,protective-element platelets in a rectangular shape. FIG. 13 b depicts across section of this same material.

FIG. 14 a depicts a “pocket”-type arrangement where theprotective-element platelets are not attached in any way to the elasticcovering materials. Rather, the exterior elastic layers are connected toform pockets to hold the platelets inside the pockets. FIG. 14 b depictsa cross section of this same material.

FIG. 15 depicts an alternative embodiment of the protective element as apanel of knitted, high-strength, fiber cloth joined only at panel seamsto a layer of elastic base material.

FIGS. 16 a and 16 b depict an alternative embodiment of protectiveelements connected by a plurality of material, such as an elasticthread, or the like.

FIGS. 17 a and 17 b depict an alternative embodiment of protectiveplatelets with their edges connected by material, such as an elasticthread, or the like, in perspective view and sectional view,respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

My earlier filed application, of which this application is acontinuation, notes that several objectives and advantages of myinvention are the following:

To provide a material to comprise a garment, that protects the wearerfrom cuts, punctures, and tears (such as may be imposed by a shark bite,impact with a reef, or a sharp rock).

To provide a material to comprise a garment, that expands and contractsto the limit of the elastic base material, and not to the limit ofinterconnected protective elements as in other garments. This isachieved by both specifically not interconnecting protective element(s),and limiting or eliminating the direct connective surface area betweenthe protective element and the elastic base material(s). In comparison,typical chain mail can only expand to the limit of the extendedinterconnected rings.

To provide a material to comprise a garment, that while protecting thewearer, it also expands and contracts. This elastic nature which clingsto the wearers contours is critical to 1) provide for easy donning anddoffing, 2) provide for ease of mobility and freedom of movement of thewearer, 3) allow for potential thermal benefit if desired, 4) minimizewater drag and 5) minimize gear entanglements (like scuba gear).

To provide a material to comprise a garment that, while protecting thewearer and allowing free movement, does not appear very different thanother garments commonly worn today (like common surfing or divingwetsuits). This allows the wearer to feel comfortable around peersengaged in similar activities, as the proposed garment does not have anoutrageous appearance (like the chain mail or spiked outfits).

To provide a material to comprise a garment that, while protecting thewearer and allowing free movement, is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture in materials and fabrication processes. This is achieved byusing standard size and spacing of protective elements (mass produced),affixed to common elastic materials (like neoprene and nylon), withsimple single point attachment like button sewing or rivets. Theprotective elements themselves can be made from laminated high strengthcloth (i.e., laminated aramid fiber cloth), which is alreadymanufactured and commonly used in sail boat sails.

In the following detailed description of various embodiments of theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments ofthe invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without many of these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not beendescribed in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure novel aspects ofthe various embodiments of the invention.

In the Figures and the following description, numeral designationsindicate various features, with like numeral designations referring tolike features throughout both the drawings and the description. Althoughthe Figures are described in greater detail below, the following is aglossary of the elements identified in the Figures.

20 Layer of protective elements

22 Layer of elastic cover

24 Elastic seaming (stitching etc.)

26 Zipper opening

28 Minimal protective elements

30 Area of large size platelets

32 Area of medium size platelets

34 Area of small sized platelets

36 Elastic layer

40 Elastic base layer

42 Point connection (i.e., stitch)

50 Connection through all layers

52 Continuous bond (i.e., glue)

54 Dimension of elastic area

56 Dimension of non-elastic area

60 Knitted cloth protective elem.

62 Expansive stitching

64 Protective layer

66 Shark Tooth

68 Surface area of tooth point

70 Surface area of tooth edge

71 Individual tooth serration

72 Layer of plastic film

80 Layer of strong woven fabric

82 Rigid protective platelet

84 Jagged Surface

86 Hole perforation

90 Smooth Surface

92 Round platelet

94 Overlapped round platelet

96 Hexagonal platelet

98 Overlapped hexagonal platelet

100 Triangular platelet

102 Overlapped triangular platelet

104 “Z” shape overlap platelet

106 Flat overlapping platelet

108 “Pocket”-continuous attachment

110 Attachment Material (e.g., elastic thread)

112 Open area

Although this application is not directed to the patented inventionsthat have been claimed in my earlier application, it will repeat thedisclosure of my earlier application for completeness and clarity, whilethe claims will be directed to distinct invention I am claiming in thisapplication.

FIG. 1 depicts a complete wet suit garment made from the compositeprotective material with a flap exposing the protective layer 20underneath a layer of elastic cover material 22. The elastic material ispreferably neoprene or a thin nylon elastic fabric, depending on thedesired thermal properties. Essentially, any elastic material either infabric or sheets could be used for layer(s) of the material, such asrubber, nylon, silicone, etc. There is a typical closeable opening 26(i.e., zipper, hook and eye, etc.), expansive connections (i.e.,stitching, heat fusing, glue, tape, etc.) at the panel seams 24, and thepotential for panels for different sized protective element(s) within.Large sized protective elements (i.e., 3″ diameter round platelets)could be used in torso and back areas 30, medium sized protectiveelements (i.e., 1 lh″ diameter round platelets) could be used in arm andleg areas 32, and small sized protective elements (i.e., ¾″ diameterround platelets) could be used in high mobility areas like elbows andknees 34. Areas of contact and chaffing 28, like arm pits and groin,could have no protective element. The elastic cover layer 22 ispreferred to render the complete garment as close in appearance toexisting garments as possible, to reduce water drag on exposedprotective elements, and to prevent snagging between the individualprotective elements and gear (i.e., scuba gear).

FIG. 2 shows a piece of the material in a perspective view with layerspulled up to expose the elastic layers and protective elements within.There is one layer of expandable base material 40, a layer of elasticmaterial 36 to attach the protective elements 38 on either side, and anadditional exterior layer of elastic material 36 to cover the protectiveelements 38.

FIG. 3 a depicts the preferred embodiment of an individual protectiveelement, comprised of a layer of high-strength, fiber cloth 80, attached(glued, heat fused, etc.) between two outside layers of plastic 72 suchas polyethylene terephthalate (PET). FIG. 3 b depicts this same plateletin cross section, and FIG. 3 c is an exploded view. The critical purposeof the outside layers of plastic is to keep the high strength materialflat and expanded in whatever shape it is (i.e., circular), so that itwill not roll up or fold between the layers of the elastic base andcovering when those layers are expanding and contracting. Also, theplastic serves to keep the edges of high strength (cloth) materials fromunraveling.

FIG. 4 a depicts the individual, non-expansive, protective elements 38point-attached 42 to the elastic base material 36, with dimension linesshowing the amount of relative elastic area 54 in a linear format. Thepoint-attachment 42 allows for virtually all of the linear area of theelastic material 36 to remain elastic.

FIG. 4 b (shown only for reference, not part of this invention) depictsthe same line of protective elements 38 with continuous attachment 52 tothe elastic base 36. This figure also depicts the linear area remainingthat is still elastic 54, and also shows the extensive area that isrendered as non-elastic 56 due to its continuous connection 52 to anon-elastic protective element 38. The sum total of elastic area 54 inFIG. 4 a is substantially larger than the sum total of elastic area 54in FIG. 4 b. In FIG. 4 a, the point-connectivity between the elasticbase 36 and protective element 38 renders a mostly elastic surface. Theprotective portion 38 of the inelastic layer 56 reduces the elasticityof the surrounding areas in FIG. 4 b.

FIG. 5 a depicts this same material in cross section in a relaxed state.Three layers of elastic material 36 surround two layers of protectiveplatelets 38. The protective element 38 layers are offset to one anotherto provide greater protection through the section. The protectiveelements 38 are point-attached 42 (i.e., button stitch, glue, rivet,etc.) to the elastic layers. The point-attachment minimizes the area ofconnectivity between the layers, leading to greater elasticity.

FIG. 5 b shows the same cross section in an expanded, stretched state.Even though the elastic materials 36 have expanded, the protectiveelements 38 have not expanded, nor have the protective elements 38limited the expansion of the base materials 36, due to the point onlyattachment. Also, with the protective element 38 layers offset to oneanother, one layer of protective elements will cover the gaps opened bythe other layer of protective elements during expansion. It is alsopossible to connect all the layers together via a connection attachment50 (i.e., stitch, glue, rivet, etc.) without limiting the elasticity ofthe composite material. This helps create a consistent and interrelatedcomposite material.

FIG. 6 a depicts a single shark tooth 66 in initial contact with theprotective materials 64, with a representation of the tooth point'ssurface area 68. The area of impact 68 in FIG. 6 a is extremely small.Therefore, if the pressure of the bite were 60 pounds per square inch(PSI) with a single tooth, and the point of the tooth is 1/30‘x’ of aninch, the relative puncture pressure on the small area of the protectiveelement would be 1,800 PSI.

FIG. 6 b depicts a flexible protective element 64 yielding to the shapeof the shark tooth 66, dramatically increasing the surface area betweena single tooth 66 and the protective element 64. As the surface area ofcontact 70 with the tooth 66 increases, the relative puncture pressureon the protective element dramatically decreases. If the surface area 70represented in FIG. 6 b were ⅙‘t’ of an inch, the same 60 PSI bite wouldyield a relative puncture pressure of a single tooth at 360 PSI, acrossthe larger surface area.

FIG. 7 a depicts a shark tooth 66 with serrations 71 reacting to thehigh-strength fibers 80 of the protective element 64. The serratednature of the tooth snagging on the fibers 80 has not only prevented thetooth from puncturing through the material 64, it has also prevented thetooth from sliding back and forth on the surface of the material 64,keeping it from pressing in between protective elements or slicing theirsurface.

FIG. 7 b depicts a magnified view of the serrations 71 catching on thefibers of the high strength material 80.

FIG. 9 a depicts an alternative embodiment of a (semi) rigid protectiveelement 82. These (semi) rigid protective elements may be desired tolimit blunt force trauma for certain garments. It is critical that theseprotective elements have some sort of jagged, perforated, “snagging”material on the surface of the rigid protective element (like hook andeye, wire mesh, softer material, etc.) or other non-smooth surface 84 toprevent a sliding action of the tooth. A typical shark bite includes adownward pressure, as well as shaking from side to side. If teeth areallowed to slide over protective element faces, they will find their wayin between protective elements (shown in FIG. 10 a below).

FIG. 9 b depicts this same protective element 82 in cross sectiondepicting the irregular surface of the design.

FIG. 9 c depicts an alternative embodiment of a rigid, protectiveelement platelet 82 with hole-shaped perforations 86.

FIG. 9 d depicts this same protective element platelet 82 in crosssection.

FIG. 10 a (not part of this invention, shown for reference) depicts theoperation of rigid protective element platelets 82 with smooth surfaces90 in contact with a shark's tooth under the operation of a typical bite(downward pressure and side to side shaking). This figure illustratesthat the tooth can slide over the surface of the protective elementplatelet, finding its way between two protective element platelets, thusdefeating the protective qualities of the platelets.

FIG. 10 b depicts an irregular surface 84 of a rigid protective elementplatelet 82 “capturing” the tooth point during side to side shaking,thus preventing it from simply sliding in between protective elements.

FIGS. 11 a through 11 f depict various geometric patterns of protectiveelement platelets in exposed and overlapping configurations, which canbe utilized for style or ease of manufacturing. The actual shape of theprotective element platelets could be in many different forms orvariations. FIG. 11 a depicts the surface of material with roundprotective element platelets 92, FIG. 11 b with round overlappingprotective element platelets 94. FIG. 11 c depicts the surface ofmaterial with hexagonal protective element platelets 96, FIG. 11 d withoverlapping hexagonal protective element platelets 98. FIG. 11 e depictsthe surface of material with triangular protective element platelets100, FIG. 11 f with overlapping triangular protective element platelets102.

FIG. 12 a depicts an alternative embodiment of protective elementplatelets, in rectangular “Z”-shaped, protective element platelets 104that overlap other protective element platelets 104, thus allowing forexpansion and contraction without opening gaps in the system.

FIG. 12 b depicts the same arrangement of rectangular “Z” shapedprotective element platelets 104 that overlap one another in a flatplane, affixed with point connections 42, to an elastic base 36, incross section.

FIG. 13 a depicts an alternative embodiment, in a perspective view offlat, overlapped protective element platelets 106 in a rectangularshape, affixed to layers of elastic materials 36. FIG. l3 b depicts across section of this same material of flat overlapped protectiveelement platelets 106, affixed to layers of elastic materials 36 withpoint connections 42.

FIG. 14 a depicts an alternative embodiment where the elastic materials36 are connected together 50 in such a fashion as to create “pockets”108 to hold the protective element platelets 38 within the pockets 108,in relative position to each other across the plane of elastic material.

In this embodiment there is no direct attachment whatsoever from theprotective element platelets 38 to the elastic material 36.

FIG. 15 depicts an alternative embodiment of the protective materialwith a large protective element of knitted high strength material, likeknitted aramid fibers 60 and a layer of elastic base material 36,connected together only at panel seams with an elastic attachment 62(i.e., stitching, glue, fusing, etc.). This embodiment also minimizesconnective area between the elastic material and the protective element,by only connecting the materials at the panel seams 62.

FIG. 16 a depicts a frontal view of an alternative embodiment ofplatelets 38, connected via a plurality of individual elastic threads110 to the elastic material 112.

FIG. 16 b depicts a rear view of an alternate embodiment of platelets 38connected via individual elastic threads 110 to the elastic material112.

FIG. 17 a depicts a perspective view of an alternative embodiment ofplatelets 38 with elastic connections 110 at the outside edge of theplatelets.

FIG. 17 b depicts a section of this arrangement of protective platelets38 with elastic connections 110 at the perimeter edges, and an optionallayer(s) of a covering or underlying material 36 with an elasticattachment 42 (i.e., stitching, glue, fusing, etc.).

From the description above, a number of advantages of the puncture andcut resistant material become evident.

This material is comfortable. It is specifically designed to be bothelastic, form fitting, and light weight. A completed garment will actmuch like currently available elastic nylon garments or elastic neoprenegarments, which means it has a high probability of actually being worn.The clinging fit reduces water drag, eliminates snagging of equipment,and allows it to worn as an undergarment. This ease of mobility would behighly sought after by water sports enthusiasts, law enforcement,military operations, etc.

The material is easy to manufacture. Assembly of the material isexecuted with standard garment industry methods. The preferredembodiment of the material is layers of elastic nylon or neoprene, withmultiple layers of high strength laminated protective elements inbetween. The protective elements can be made from laminating highstrength cloth (i.e., aramid fiber cloth, etc.). Aramid fibers have alongstanding reputation for protection, and laminated aramid fibers havebeen used for decades in racing sails for boats, proving the compositeprotective element material's longevity. The composite layered materialcan be simply sewn together, or attached by any number of methodsincluding fusing, gluing, tapes, etc. If (semi) rigid protectiveelements are desired, they can be attached with button-stitching,rivets, or any number of other techniques.

The elastic nature of the material eliminates the need for precisetailoring to individuals. This means a certain size garment would fit alarge percentage of the population, reducing costs to manufacture anddistribute the garments. This same elastic nature also allows for easeof donning of the garment, in not requiring numerous holes and closures.This further simplifies the manufacturing process of garments.

The completed material and garments look substantially like currentlyavailable garments. Wetsuits, rash guards, elastic nylon sport wear,etc. all appear substantially the same as the protective material. Thismeans this protective material is likely to actually be purchased andworn. Other protective products like chain mail diving garments have anappearance not likely to be utilized by surfers or swimmers.

This material lends itself to various applications. Protective elementscan be thin and flexible for small shark bite protection, or theprotective elements could be (semi) rigid and/or thicker for ballisticor stab protection. The elastic layers could be thin nylon for warmwater, or neoprene for cold water, and there can be any number oflayers. Any number of combinations are possible to fit the perceivedthreat or conditions. The various possible configurations of thismaterial allow it to be adapted for water activities, law enforcement,military, etc.

Accordingly, the puncture and cut resistant material is a substantialimprovement from currently available technology. The material can beused in a number of applications, but would prove especially useful inrelation to water activities. The material of this invention is designedto provide relatively free expansion and contraction, while alsoproviding for protection from punctures, cutting, tearing, etc., via aplurality of protective element(s). Furthermore, the puncture and cutresistant material has additional advantages in that:

-   -   1) the material's construction permits the wearer to move freely        and vigorously, while maintaining a substantial level of        protection;    -   2) the material's smooth exterior surface reduces water drag,        and prevents snagging on gear or outerwear;    -   3) the material allows for a relatively simple manufacturing        process in that existing fabrics and existing laminated high        strength fibers are combined with simple stitching or other        fabric joining methods;    -   4) the material's elastic properties allow for garments to        stretch to fit the wearer, thus eliminating the need for custom        tailoring or numerous openings and closures to properly fit a        wide range of different wearers;    -   5) its finished appearance is substantially the same as other        materials currently used in garments, allowing users to wear the        improved garments with being subjected to an unpleasing        appearance;    -   6) the material's construction allows for a wide range of        application, utilizing a few layers of protective elements or        many, utilizing thin flexible protective elements or thicker        (semi) rigid protective elements, thus being adaptable to        various perceived threats or conditions.

Although the description above contains much specificity, the specificdetails provided should not be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of thepresently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, theelastic materials could be many different materials, thicknesses,configurations, weaves, knits, etc. The protective elements can be madefrom flexible high strength materials like aramid fibers, nylon fibers,steel mesh, plastic (i.e., high density polyethylene etc.), etc., orfrom (semi) rigid materials like steel, aluminum, plastic (thickerlayers), etc. The protective elements can also be made from any numberof composite assemblies, like carbon fiber, laminated aramid cloth,rubber infused with steel mesh, etc. The minimal attachment of theprotective elements can be accomplished by button stitching, rivets,pocket sewing, panel sewing, adhesive, etc. Finally, the assembly of thematerial can be from any number of layers of elastic materials, layersof protective elements, and various means to connect the layers (i.e.,stitching, riveting, adhesives, heat fusing, tapes, etc.

Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

What is claimed is: 1: A composite material, comprising: a first layerof elastic material; a second layer of material; and a plurality ofprotective elements that cover substantially all of the first layer ofelastic material; wherein the second layer of material is connected tothe first layer of elastic material with a plurality of connections insuch a manner as to restrain each of the plurality of protectiveelements within a pocket; and wherein the first layer of elasticmaterial and the second layer of material are not attached directly tothe plurality of protective elements. 2: The composite material of claim1 wherein the first layer of elastic material can freely expand andcontract without substantial restriction caused by the plurality ofprotective elements. 3: The composite material of claim 2 wherein thesecond layer of material is comprised of a second layer of elasticmaterial. 4: The composite material of claim 3 wherein each of theplurality of protective elements is inelastic. 5: The composite materialof claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of protective elements has adiameter of approximately ¾ of an inch or more. 6: A composite material,comprising: a layer of elastic threads; and a plurality of protectiveelements that are connected to and cover substantially all of the layerof elastic threads; wherein the plurality of protective elements are notconnected to each other; and wherein the layer of elastic threads canfreely expand and contract without substantial restriction caused by theplurality of protective elements. 7: The composite material of claim 6wherein each of the plurality of protective elements is inelastic. 8:The composite material of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality ofprotective elements has a diameter of approximately ¾ of an inch ormore. 9: A composite material, comprising: a layer of a plurality ofprotective elements connected together by a plurality of elasticconnections at a plurality of perimeter points wherein the layer of theplurality of protective elements can freely expand and contract withoutsubstantial restriction due to a plurality of gaps formed between theplurality of protective elements. 10: The composite material of claim 9wherein each of the plurality of protective elements is inelastic. 11:The composite material of claim 9 wherein each of said plurality ofprotective elements has a diameter of approximately ¾ of an inch ormore. 12: The composite material of claim 9 further comprising acovering material attached to the plurality of protective elements by asecond plurality of elastic connections.